|
|
|
|
|
|
System:
Nintendo DS
Genre:
Sports
ESRB Rating:
E
Release Date:
0- 0000
Sports
ESRB Rating:
E
Release Date:
0- 0000
Publisher:
Activision
Developer:
Vicarious Visions
Activision
Developer:
Vicarious Visions
CUBE128
Published:9- 2005
User Views: 1153
User Replies: 0
An in-depth look at the first online enabled game for the DS.
It has been years since the first Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater game took the videogame industry by storm, then continuing the tradition with nearly every new installment the franchise met. Throughout the years, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater has evolved and changed in immense ways from game to game—From the original Tony Hawk through its third incarnation, Neversoft worked on expanding on the original formula from the first game, to the fourth release which made the game more open and gave players a more free feel of play. Tony Hawks Underground (THUG) centered on the idea of giving the game a storyline, specifically of a casual skateboarder who eventually lives his lifetime dream of becoming a professional. Finally, the much-anticipated THUG 2 took you, the player, around the globe on a more destruction-based plot.
Now the upcoming console installment, Tony Hawk’s American Wasteland, will bring you to Los Angles, mother of skateboarding; and all of L.A. is yours to skate, destroy, and wreak havoc upon when the game hits store shelves this fall. And on the subject of the first DS title in the series, coming around the same time, it may come off to just be a cel-shaded version of the next console installation, but think again.
The DS Tony Hawk game is called American Sk8land, as opposed to American Wasteland, because it shares very little with the console version; its going to implement many new ways to play Tony Hawk using the DS's touch screen, microphone, and wireless online capabilities. However, it should manage to feel very similar to the previous editions thanks to the use of the A, B, X, and Y buttons.
One major aspect of THDS that must not go unrecognized is the new direction they are taking the game with the art and graphics. The new cel-shaded look seems to give the game a new feel and a break from the console renditions, where the graphics and designs seem to be getting dirtier and more ridiculous every time a new game comes out. Running smoothly at 60 frames per second, the 3-D maps look amazing in terms of design, color, and detail.
Surprisingly enough, although this is a handheld edition to the series with amazing graphics and detail, the levels are still just as large as their console counterparts from American Wasteland, featuring all of Los Angeles. Exploring through L.A. is sure to give a certain freedom that is starting to get popular with recent games (The Hulk: Ultimate Destruction, True Crime: Streets of NY, Grand Theft Auto series, and Spider-Man the Movie 2).
American Sk8land will also be first Tony Hawk game to have a constant map open at all times; this will be done using the lower screen. The map will display missions, goals, skate letters, et cetera, to aid you in completing (or in the case of the letters, locating) them. It also puts a rest to the uncomfortable "stop to choose the map on the start menu" to find your next destination or your desired location.
Aside from the game completely taking advantage of the DS's 3-D engine and dual screens, the game is going to really use the microphone in unique ways. The microphone can be used to record your voice, and after recording your voice you can put your recording to different uses, such as setting the game to use that recording when you bail or do a special trick. The mic is only one of the unique ways American Sk8and will use the DS's capabilities.
The game will also use the touch screen to make special tricks easier to pull off. When your special bars fills, one of the three special tricks previously assigned to three special trick slots will be available for use; and using your special trick is as easy as touching the filled slot. The touch screen has numerous other uses, such as making create-a-park a breeze, and allowing players to draw their own deck graphics, graffiti tags, shirts, etc., using a helpful in-game graphics editor.
That's only the tip of the ice burg. Sk8land will be the first third-party game to utilize the wi-fi online capability DS has to offer for online play with other Sk8landers across the globe. Vicarious Visions has been working with Nintendo since last year's E3, where the game and its online intentions were originally announced, to bring players an online Tony Hawk on Nintendo's handheld.
The online features haven't been finalized, but we can expect online versions of Trick Attack, Score Challenge, Combo Mambo, The Price is Wrong, and Horse, in addition to more familiar methods of play and completely new online modes that have been promised.
Tony Hawks American Sk8land is shaping up to be a must own for any DS owner, as far as im concerned. There's nothing that fans of the older renditions won't love, and there's plenty of new features to attract a new crowd. American Sk8land will hit some time in November. Expect a review some time around its release.
| Anticipation |
9
|
|
|
|
| With Sk8land being the first DS game to go online, there's plenty to look forward to. |
| Overall |
9
|
|
|
|
| Neversoft takes advantage of the DS's power very well; from drawing your own board with the touch screen to competing online, Sk8land is going to be a great game. |
| Post Comment Game
|